The Castle of the Atalaya is the most emblematic monument in Villena. From its privileged position on the summit of a small hill, it has zealously watched over the changes in the daily life of the city for more than nine centuries. A witness to battles between kingdoms and civil strife, a refuge of the disiinherited seeking shelter as well as a strategic stronghold in the battles for territorial claims, the castle has throughout its history played a mayor role as a fortress.